Earth moving and vehicle propelling conveyer for self-loading road building machines



Sept. 8, 1953 H. R. MILLER EARTH MOVING .AND VEHICLE PROPELLING CONVEYER Filed Feb. 24, 1947 FOR SELF-LOADING ROAD BUILDING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 8, 1953 H. R. MlLLER 2,651,120 EARTH MOVING AND VEHICLE PROPELLING CONVEYER FOR SELFLOADING ROAD BUILDING MACHINES Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1947 Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EARTH MOVING AND VEHICLE PROPELLING CONVEYER FOR SELF-LOADIN G .ROAD

3 Claims.

invention relates to earth moving and I road building machinery and is an improvement on the inventions disclosed in my two United States Letters Patent, Numbers 1,827,897, issued October 20, 1931, and 1,942,034, issued January 2, 1934. In my said patents, I disclosed machinery for cutting, collecting, removing and distrbuting dirt and other material under the control of the operator or driver. The said machines were propelled, preferably, by their own power and did the combined work of steam or power shovels, elevator graders, dump Wagons and bulldozers, thereby materially economizing upon the machinery and equipment necessary for building and maintaining roads, leveling and lling building sites and the like.

It is an object of my present invention to materially simplify and improve upon tlhe structures of my prior patents, providing a machine having even a greater capacity for work although more compact in form and utilizing preferably the full width and the full length of the chassis Aof a vehicle for cutting and loading dirt as well as accumulating the load.

A further object is the provision of a highly ,A

efficient earth moving and road building machine adapted 'to cut and collect earth over the entire width of the machine and to accumulate on the collecting body thereof, a deep stratum of material throughout the entire length and width of the machine.

Another object is the provision of a machine of the class described wherein the machine in vehicle form, is self-propelled and the body thereof occupies at least the full width and length of the chassis and is adapted to receive plowed or cut earth from the full width. of the front end thereof andV to selectively and atwill, discharge and distribute lmaterial progressively from the rear end and if desired, also from the front, whereby the machine rarely needs to be turned for picking un a load and has tractionsupporting means adapted to engage the ground below the level of the material 'being cut or plowed when moved in one direction Iand adapted to be supported on material progressively discharged, when moved in the Opposite direction.

Another object is the provision in a machine'of the class described, of efficient control and ad- .iustment mechanism which will enable the driver or operator to conveniently and instantly conthoroughly practical, large-capacity earth cuttmg and moving machine which will uniformly cut and progressively collect a stratum of earth, accumulating a very large-capacity load and adapted to progressively dump and distribute the load at will and at a desired rate 0f speed, in accordance with a wide variety of working conditions, thereby taking the place of several carryall Scrapers, a tractor-type pusher, a bulldozer and planers and an elevator grader.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will be more apparent from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of my invention with ,some portions broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the machine on approximately the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the machine with some portions broken away;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the forward end of a somewhat different embodiment of the invention.

Chassis and tracks In the form illustrated, my road building machine is supported at its medial and rear portions upon two sets of widely spaced traction members of the endless track type indicated as an entirety by the letter T. The frame for the two sets of tracks includes a pair of very heavy side channel members 'l disposed at the respective sides of the machine adjacent the ground and connected with the load-accumulating body for supporting `the rear portion thereof by suitable means, The track frame includes also a heavy, horizontal platform 8 (see Fig. 3) for underlying the rear portion of the load-accumulating body and rigidly connected with the heavy, longitudinal frame members 9 of the body. Platform 8 at its medial portion .fhas a depending bolster @a forming aty its lower portion. a heavy mounting for a large common rear axle I il of the two sets of tracks.

The forward ends of the side channel track members l are pivotally connected by a transverse shaft l la. with Vthe depending rear extremities of heavy, forwardly extending arms I l which are interconnected-at'their forward ends to form Va subframe or yoke.. The forward end of the yoke so formed in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, is supported upon two widely spaced sets of caster wheels I2, each pair of said wheels being journaled in a suitable bracket and each bracket having a centrally disposed king bolt I3 which is journaled in a socket provided by the interconnecting structure of the oke.

y The tracks are of conventional type comprising endless traction elements I4 made up of the usual hinged links and trained about large driving sprockets I5 at the rear of the tracks and smaller idler sprockets I6 journaled on a transverse shaft I1 mounted in the forward portions of the track frame members 1. The track driving sprockets I5 are each independently driven through meshed gear connection between a gear i8 afxed to sleeve I9 upon which the driving sprockets I5 are secured, said gear I8 in each instance, being driven by a driving pinion 2d anixed to a transverse stub shaft 2l which is then driven, in the embodiment illustrated, by endless chain drive 22 from a transverse power take-off shaft A23 mounted in the upper and rear portion of the superframe attached to the rear portion of the load-carrying body.

The forward end of the load-carrying body is adjustably supported from the subframe or heavy forward yoke of the chassis through a pair of hydraulic jacks indicated as an entirety by the letter J, one disposed in upstanding position at each side of the machine and adjacent the forward portion of the load body and as shown having the cylinders thereof pivotally connected with the upper portion ofthe load body and having vthe hydraulic piston rods thereof pivotally vconnected at their lower ends with heavy, upstanding lugs 24 secured to the intermediate portions of the forwardly extending arms il of the subframe or yoke.

. VFrom the foregoing, it will be seen that the chassis of my machine is in the form of a vehiclesupported at its rear portions by the two sets of cooperating tracks T and at its forward end ahead of the load-carrying body by the two sets of caster wheelsV I2. It further. will be apparent that the load-carrying body of my machine is pivotally supported at its rear portion upon the rigid frame for the tracks and may bodily tilt upon the heavy, stationary axle l0 at the rear of the tracks and that adjustment of the forward end of the body relative to the ground or supporting surface may be. made through operation of the hydraulic jacks J which connect the forward portion of the body with the forwardly extending, heavy arms II of the yoke.

` Plow and combined eleoator and Creeper The load accumulating bodyof my machine is of general box form, as will later be described in detail, and extends at least the full width of the chassis and preferably slightly beyond .or in overhanging relation to the supporting tracks T. Both forward and rear Yends of the body are open for receiving and progressively dumping and distributing material and the forward end `of the body is provided with aplow of the scoop adapted to be adjusted in its cutting relation with the ground, through bodily tilting of the body upon the heavy, stationary axle I0 of the tracks through operation of the upstanding hydraulic jacks J. The cutting edge 25a is disposed rearwardly of the caster wheels I2, a sufficient distance for accommodation of a transversely disposed endless conveyor, indicated as an entirety by the letter C, which has the combined functions of serving as an elevating conveyor for material cut by the plow as well as an auxiliary traction-propelling device for the tracks T.

The endless conveyor C in the form illustrated, comprises va series (as shown, 3) of smaller endless sprocket chains 26 mounted in a triangulated rigid frame 2T which is pivoted at its upper and rearward end on heavy mountings to the forward end and upper portion of the load-carrying body at both of the sides thereof. The endless chains 26 are respectively trained about driving pinions 25a aiiixed to a transverse driving shaft 28 which serves as a pivotal connection of the frame and is journaled in heavy brackets or mountings, as previously described. The triangulated frame 2l' has vertically disposed side portions rigidly interconnected and the outer ends of which have journaled transversely therebetween, idler rollers or sprockets 29 about which the lower and forward runs of the three chains are trained, holding and maintaining the chains 26 and the conveyor formed thereby, in the triangular relationship clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Conveyor C in the form shown, is provided with a plurality of cross slats 3B traversing and aiiixed inspaced relation to the chains 26 and forming earth-engaging cleats which, due to the driving of the conveyor in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, causes cut soil to be engaged and elevated onto the forward end of the load-receiving body and which further engages the ground somewhat forwardly of the cutting of the plow, with tractive eiort to produce a creeping action or auxiliary propulsion of the vehicle. While the scoop type plow -itself `is adequate to, inthe travel of the machine, lift cut material upon the bottom of the load body, with the assistance of conveyor C, material is more quickly elevated and may be accumulated to a stratum of considerable height, in fact, to the full height of the body.

Load-accumulating body am? material distributing means My load-accumulating body, indicated as an entirety by the letter B is of general, elongated box form comprising a pair of widely spaced vertical side walls 3I, transversely and rigidly interconnected by suitable means and a bottom formed by an elongated endless apron 32, the upper run of which is supported upon a multiplicity of aligned transverse rollers 33 journaled between the side walls 3| of the body and disposed at the bottom thereof. Apron 32 may conveniently comprise a wire, relatively heavy rubber belt although ofcourse, other suitable material may be utilized. The forward end of apron 32 is trained about an idler roller 34 disposed just rearwardly of the rear edge of mold board 25 while the rear o f apron 32 is trained about a relatively large distributing roller which is journaled in the rear portions of the vertical walls 3i and is disposed with its upper periphery preferably slightly below the general level of the apron. Roller 35, as shown, is driven from one of its ends by' endless chain drive 36, said driving chain being trained abouta drive sprocket 3l amxed to a shaft 31a which is suitably driven from the motor or source of power. Guiding rollers 38 disposed in widely spaced relation engage the lower run of apron 32 to con-form the same to the desired configuration and to serve as a belttightener; The driving means for load apron 32 may be reversible so that material may be progres'- sively discharged and distributed from both the rear and the front ends of the load-accumulating body.

Power unit and. driving connections In the form of the invention illustrated, an internal combustion engine of suitable power or other power uni-t indicated as an entirety by the letterV P', is mounted upon a` snperfr'ame SF transversing and supported upon the reinforced upper edges of the vertical walls 3lof the load body with its power take-off shaft disposed, as shown, longitudinally of the body and at the rear of the motor. The propeller or power take-ofi shaft of themot-or is connected with a torque converter' unit indicated as an entirety bythe letters TC disposed rearwardly of the motor and supported from the snperf'rame' SF. The torque converter is provided with a transversely disposed power take-oir' shaft 39 which traverses the load body and comprises two independently drivab-le sections 23y disposed at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the machine, each' of said sections having an independent clutch mechanism 40 for connection with the' power takeoii of the torque converter. The outer ends of each of the driven transverse shaft sections '23 is provided with a heavy driving sprocket which, as shown, is connected for driving by the endless driving chain 22 with the appropriate stub shaft 2l which has xed thereto, the pinion 20 for driving one of the tracks. The transverse power take-off shaft 39 also has beveled gear driving engagement with a central and' longitudinally disposed driven shaft 42' which at its rear end is provided with a worm 42a meshed with a worm gear on a crossv shaft 43' comprising the two drivable sections 31a; which' is connected by driving chains 36 with the driven larger roller 35 of the load-accumulating and discharge apron 32.

Coupled up with the torque converter and power take-off shaft isV a reversing gear transmission mechanism s4 whereby power may be applied to the tracks for travel of the vehicle rearwardly. Power for driving the elevating and creeping conveyor C at the forward end of the machine isV supplied through an elongated, longitudinally extending shaft 45 connected for driving at its forward end with the driven shaft 28 of the conveyor C. The rear end of the elongated shaft d is connected by beveled gears with a short cross shaft 46 which in turn, isv driven at its inner end from a beveled driving gear 4T fixed to the longitudinally extending short shaft. 42 which also drives the load-accumulating and discharging apron. A clutch mechanism 48 is interposed in shaft 46 controllable by the driver as will, later be fully explained.

Dri-ving controls Selective application of power maybe applied at will for driving the two sets of' tracks in forward or reverse directions and for driving the elevating and creeping conveyor C as well as the load-accumulating and discharging apron 32. These controls are cooperatively related with the pedal strip 53 is 6 operating. mechanism ot my machine .in such manner that one operator may conveniently and easily control all operations and functions of the machine while observing both plowing and accumulation of load! well' as thedischarge and'. distribution of accumulated material.

To this end, in the embodiment of the. invention illustrated, Ifprovide a. nearly horizontal cat walk W extending longitudinally of the machine at the topx of the superstructure and above the superf'rame and disposed at one side of the power unit and extending preferably to a point disposed', say 8 to l0 feet rearwardly of the front end of the box body. Right andv left hand railings 5U and 5 I` are provided above and at the sides of cat walk W, said railings being supported in substantially horizontal position by opstanding standards 52 and being slidably mounted in bearing sleeves at the upper ends of said standards for restricted longitudinal movement therein to control respectively, the clutch mechanism 4l! for the respective right and left hand set of tracks.

Mechanism is provided (not shown in detail) for shifting and controlling the clutch operation and also transmission driving connections between each oi' the track driving shaft sections 23 and the source ofV power at the output of the torque converter TC. The shifting of gear driving connections and release and engagement of clutches 4U in each instance, is brought about by the shifting of one lever for each of the tracks. The lever for controlling the driving' of the right hand track is connected by a link 50c which at its upper end is fixed' to the rear end of' the slidable railing 50. The lever for controlling the driving of the left hand track is connected by a link 5in with the left hand railing 5|. Thus, the driver or operator from any point along cat walk W may longitudinally shift the railings 50 and 5l to cause both tracks to be driven in forwardly direction or to cause one track to be driven and the other idled to turn and guide the .machine in its travel. Rearward pulling of the railing members 50 and 5|, at will controls the reverse driving of the tracks, so that the machine may be as readily driven and controlled in rearward travel as in forward load-collecting travel.

To provide independent and immediately responsive driving controls for the combined elevator conveyor and Creeper CV and for the loadaccumulating and discharge apron 32, elongated pedal strips 5'3 and 54 (see Fig. 3) are provided at the longitudinal` sides of cat walk W extending substantially the full length thereof. The pedal strip 53 for controlling the driving of conveyor C is affixed to the upper ends of rocker arms 53a which in turn are fixed to an elongated tube 53h positioned below and longitu'd'inally of the cat Walk W. The tube 5322 at its rearward end is operatively connected with clutch or gear shift mechanism 48 for -drlvably connecting the short drive shaft d6 for conveyor C" with the source of driving power. Thus, when depressed, conveyor C' `will be driven.

Pedal strip 5'4 is afxed at its ends to the upstandng rocker armV 54a which are in turn affixed to the ends of a shaft 54h, said shaft being telescoped as shown within the tube 5311 and 'extending rearwardly beyond clutch 48 and connected by linkage with a `clutch 55 for controlling the driving of the large distributing roller 35 over which the load-accumulating and discharge apron 32y is trained. Thus, when pedal strip 54 is depressed, driving connection between the source of power and load-accumulating and discharging apron is instantly effected. Y

Other controls (not shown) such as throttle lever and other motor controls, are conveniently mounted for availability of the operator upon or `adjacent the cat walk.

Reversible scraper blade Operation My machine, in its entirety, comprises a full road building unit adapted to do the combined work of steam or power shovels, elevator graders, dump wagons, bulldozers and patrol graders. To cut or grade and simultaneously accumulate a load, the hydraulic jacks J are adjusted to maintain the cutting edge 25a. of the plow at the desired level below the surface of the ground. The machine is then driven in a forwardly direction and from the cat walk the operator depresses pedal strip 53 to operate the forward conveyor C, this conveyor serving to assist the plow in the elevation of the soil cut and to lift the same and accumulate the load progressively upon the forward end of the load-accumulating apron 32. From time to time, or constantly during plowing when the stratum cut is deep, apron 32 is driven in a rearwardly direction and may thus be loaded to its full capacity if desired. Since the rigid triangulated frame 21 for conveyor C is pivotally mounted at its upper end, it will adjust itself in proper spaced relation to the cutting edge of the plow to engage the surface of the ground and produce a creeping action as well as elevating the material cut upon the apron 32. The control pedals 53 and 54 are returned to normal, inoperative position by any suitable mechanism, not shown, provided inherently in conventional clutch mechanism. Collected material may be progressively distributed from the rea-r end of the load body B either in forward or rearward travel of my machine for filling purposes. This is subject to the instant control of the operator through the pedal strip 54 in its connection with the clutch mechanism for connecting the driving of the large rear distributing roller 35.

It will be noted that material is cut, accumulated and subsequently discharged throughout the full width of the machine with the simplification of chassis and working mechanism. In leveling roads and building sites, the operation of my machine may be substantially continuous. It is not necessary to turn the machine for obtaining a new load since load is accumulated in forward travel and may be distributed at will, for filling. In the filling of very low spots, the loaded machine may be driven rearwardly and dirt discharged and spread evenly or as desired, ahead of their tracks in rearward movement to support the machine partially upon the material distributed. Likewise, material may be discharged from the front or plow-equipped end of the load body, by reversing the'driving of the operation by the hydraulic jacks J.

In the form of the invention illustrated inv Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the depth of the plow isl adjusted by bodily tilting the load-carrying body upon the large, stationary axle of the tracks through operation of the jacks J.

The combinative relationship of my controls for driving of the tracks as well as operation of the conveyor C and apron 32 enables a single operator to drive and operate the machine from any point along the cat walk W at the top of the load body. From this cat Walk, the operator may observe the conditions at both forward and rear ends of the machine.

When the machine, with an accumulated load, is driven rearwardly, material in stratum form may be discharged to lill cuts in advance of the tracks T whereby this material may be packed bythe subsequent travel of the very wide tracks thereover.

Embodiment of Figure 5 In Fig. 5, the forward end of a somewhat different form of the invention is illustrated, having a load-accumulating body B of the form of the invention previously described with a similar plow 25 attached to the forward end of the body. The load-accumulating and discharge apron 32 is also similar to that of the form illustrated in Fig. l to Fig. 4 and the -rear of the load-carrying body is mounted on rearwardly disposed tracks T similar to that of the form rst described.

In the form of the invention of Fig. 5, however, the front end of the vehicle and the body B is wholly supported .by the creeper and elevator mechanism indicated as an entirety by the letter M. This mechanism is generally similar per se to the conveyor mechanism C of the form rst described, comprising a triangulated frame 58 in which are journaled the top and rearward driving sprockets 59v about which the endless chains Si) are trained and in which frame the idler rollers Bl are also `iournaled at the lower and forward portion thereof. The triangulated frame 58 is held and maintained rigidly in a desired, adjusted relationship with referenceto the bott-om of the load-carrying body B by means of hydraulic jack mechanisms 62, one disposed at each side of the body and interposed between the lower forward portion of the body and the intermediate portion of the sides of triangulated frame 53. The horizontal forward portion of the conveyor and creeper mechanism M engagesthe ground and the forward end of the vehicle and body is thus supported. The adjustment of hydraulic jack 62 Vchanges the relationship between the plow and the supporting structure for the front end of the body and thus, determines the depth of the cut.

For this last mentioned form of the invention, the caster wheels at the front of the vehicle are eliminated as well as the forwardly extending subframe or yoke of the form first described and the over-all length of the machine is decreased and greater tractive eiort or creeping action is obtained than in the form lirst described.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a simplified, highly efficient earth moving machinefor building roads and leveling and excavating building sites and the like, adapted to do the work of` power shovels, graders, dump wagons, plows, bulldozers, Scrapers and self-contained, self-propelled and capable of being operated by one person.

It will 'of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arV

9 rangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. An earth-moving and distributing machine having in combination transversely spaced sets of power driven, ground-engaging propelling and supporting mechanisms, a substantially horizontal frame supported mainly from said mechanisms and extending medially thereof longitudinally of the machine and having its forward end disposed far ahead of said mechanisms, a loadaccumulating body supported on said frame and extending longitudinally thereof and having driven conveyor mechanism at the bottom thereof, the forward end of said body being disposed far ahead of said ground-engaging supporting mechanism, earth-cutting mechanism connected with the forward end of said frame and adapted to cut earth in the travel of said machine substantially the full v. idth of said body and immediately ahead of the forward end of said body, a soil-elevating and moving conveyor mounted above said earth-cutting mechanism and extending forwardly thereof and consisting of a triangulated conveyor frame having an endless conveyor trained in triangulated form thereon and provided with a substantially horizontal forward run adapted to engage the ground and assist in the tractive effort of said machine and having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined run extending from said forward run for moving cut earth upwardly and rearwardly upon the receiving, forward end of said load-accumulating body and power driving connections for said last mentioned conveyor.

2. An earth-moving and distributing machine having in combination spaced sets of driven ground-engaging, propelling and supporting mechanisms, a low, substantially horizontal frame supported mainly from said mechanisms and extending medially therebetween and having its forward end disposed far ahead of said mechanisms, a load-accumulating body supported medially on said frame and extending longitudinally thereof and having an elongated and continuous material-accumulating conveyor forming the bottom thereof, said conveyor extending at its forward end ahead of said ground-engaging supporting mechanism, means for tilting said conveyor on an axis transversely of said frame to dispose the forward end thereof some distance below the ground line and to also elevate said forward end to a position well above the ground line, means for driving said conveyor, earth-cutting mechanism connected with the forward end of said frame and adapted to cut earth substantially the full width of said conveyor, said mechanism being mounted at the forward end of said conveyor and movable with said conveyor for tilting adjustment therewith, a soil-elevating and moving conveyor mounted above said earthcutting mechanism and extending forwardly thereof and consisting of a suspended triangulated conveyor frame having an endless conveyor trained in triangulated form thereon and provided with a substantially horizontal forward run adapted to engage the ground and assist in the tractive effort of said machine and having an upwardly inclined run disposed rearwardly 10 of said forward run for moving cut'l earth upwardly and rearwardly upon the receiving end of said material-accumulating conveyor and power driving connections for said last mentioned conveyor.

3. An earth-moving and distributing machine having in combination a pair of endless, driven tracks for supporting and propelling the machine over the ground, a low, substantially horizontal frame supported mainly from said tracks and having its forward end disposed far ahead of said tracks, wheels in the forward end of said frame for partially supporting said frame, a load-accumulating body supported on said frame and having an instantly controllable elongated and continuous material-accumulating and moving conveyor forming the bottom thereof, said conveyor lying throughout substantially in a common plane and extending at its forward end far ahead of said tracks and behind said wheels and extending at its rear end some distance behind said tracks, means for tilting said conveyor longitudinally of said machine to dispose the forward end thereof some distance below the ground line and to also elevate said forward end to a position well above the ground line, means for driving said conveyor both forwardly and rearwardly, an earth-cutting element mounted and positioned to cut and deliver earth to the full width of said conveyor mounted in advance of the forward end thereof, a soil-elevating and moving conveyor mounted above said earth cutting mechanism and extending forwardly thereof and consisting of a suspended vertically adjustable, endless conveyor having a substantially horizontal run mounted to assist in the forward support of said frame and adapted from above to engage and move cut earth upwardly and rearwardly into the receiving end of said load carrying body, a motor mounted on said frame and having driving connections with said tracks for propelling the machine over the ground and having other driving connections with said earth elevating conveyor for causing the lower run of said conveyor to travel rearwardly and mechanism for adjustably and fixedly connecting said earth elevating mechanism in several relations with the forward end of said frame to assist in the support and propulsion of the same.

HANS R. MILLER.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 609,955 Brightmore Aug. 30, 1898 685,896 Wise Nov. 5, 1901 1,115,854 McDaniels Nov. 3, 1914 1,157,291 Bradsher Oct. 19, 1915 1,296,347 Werts et al. Mar. 4, 1919 1,336,016 Berridge Apr. 6, 1920 1,419,480 White June 13, 1922 1,537,558 Schultz May 12, 1925 1,806,095 Sullivan May 19, 1931 1,815,839 Ferguson July 21, 1931 1,827,897 Miller Oct. 20, 1931 1,942,034 Miller Jan. 2, 1934 2,060,688 Pryor et al. Nov. 10, 1936` 2,093,721 Grattan Sept. 21, 1937 2,147,193 Duri' Feb. 14, 1939 

